Colonel Garrett L. Benson was commissioned upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma in 1996. After the Basic School and
Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, he reported to Battery F, Second Battalion, Tenth Marines, serving as Fire Direction Officer and
deploying with Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
In 1999, First Lieutenant Benson transferred to the Marine Detachment, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, serving as the Officer in Charge of the
Marine Corps Fire Support Section, until July 2001 when he assumed command of the Marine Battery, 2-80 FA. In June 2002, Captain
Benson attended the Expeditionary Warfare School and then served as an augment to the Officer Candidate School, Company C until
August 2003.
Captain Benson reported to Fifth Battalion, Tenth Marines, serving as both the Assistant Operations Officer, Operations Officer and
Battery Commander, Battery R, deploying to Okinawa, Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program. In January 2005, Captain
Benson assumed duties as the Battalion Logistics Officer of First Battalion, Tenth Marines. He also commanded Headquarters Battery,
deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Reports Officer for the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Iraqi Security
Force Directorate.
In 2006, Major Benson transferred to the Marine Corps Operational and Test and Evaluation Activity in Quantico, VA, serving as the
Fire Support Operational Test Project Officer and Ground Division Fires Branch Head. In 2009, Major Benson was awarded the Marine
Corps Military Tester of the Year by the National Defense Industrial Association.
In 2009, Major Benson returned to 10th Marine Regiment and assumed command of the Headquarters Battery, 10th Marine Regiment.
He deployed as the Deputy Current Operations Officer, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom. Upon his return, Major Benson served as Executive Officer of Third Battalion, Tenth Marine Regiment before
again deploying as the Fires and Effect Coordinator for Regimental Combat Team 8, in Delaram, Afghanistan. Returning to Third
Battalion, Tenth Marines in February 2012, he served as the Executive Officer and Acting Battalion Commander until he reported to
the Regimental Headquarters as the Regimental Operations Officer in December 2012.
In July 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Benson reported to Marine Special Operations Support Group, Marine Forces Special Operations
Command for duty as the Executive Officer until he assumed command of Second Battalion, Tenth Marines in June 2015. Upon
relinquishing command in June 2017, he attended the United States Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Upon graduation, Colonel
Benson served as the Chief of Operations for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve from July 2018 to July 2019.
He reported to 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade in August 2019 for duty as the AC/S G-3, Operations, deploying as part of Task Force
North East, supporting the initial FEMA response to the COVID pandemic. In July 2021, Colonel Benson transferred to II Marine
Expeditionary Force for duty as the AC/S G-35, Future Operations Officer.
Colonel Benson’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three gold
stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold
star, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He is also a member of the Honorable Order of Saint
Barbara.